Adjustable stool



May 19, 1953' A. RESTIVO ADJUSTABLE STOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 14, 1950 INVENTOR. @JVGFZO RfST/l/O.

kWh-WW ATTORNEY.

y 9, 1953 A. RESTIVO 2,638,969

ADJUSTABLE STOOL Filed Dec. 14, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ANGELO REST/V0. I

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE STOOL Angelo Itestivo, Jamaica Estates, Y. I Application December 14, 1950, Serial No. 200,771

6 Claims. (01. 155 -94) s I i The present invention relates to a stool, table or the like, and is more particularly directed to a stool which may be readily and securely adjusted to any desired height.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a stool or the like which can be readily adjusted in either the upward or downward direction from any position that the seat may be at the time of adjustment.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable stool which is simple but rugged in construction and efficient in operation.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable stool which is op erated simply by grasping the stool by the hands, using normal pressure on the under portion of the stool seat with ones fingers, and then lifting or lowering the stool to the desired height.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide and adjustable stool with a looking mechanism consisting of roller bearings in engagement with a ruggedly constructed sleeve and a concentrically positioned cylindrical member.

With these and other objects in View, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the present specification with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional view in elevation of an adjustable stool made in accordance with my invention. 1

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in section of the locking mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken through 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken through 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, the numeral l refers to a conventional support or standard for a stool at the central portion of which an upright tubular member II is secured. A second tubular member l2 extending within the full length of the tube l I and axially concentric thereto is secured to the tube II at the lower portions thereof by the member l3. As is hereinafter explained in detail, the tubular member I2 is subjected to considerable pressure and is consequently constructed with a thick wall structure. The upper portion M of the tube [2 is bevelled inwardly to form a stop or arresting means for the enlarged free end l5 (which may be a screw or bolt) of a rod l6 whose other end is secured to a wood or metal seat l1.

Telescopically mounted within the tubular member H is a tube It whose upper extremity is secured to the wood seat I! by means of a flanged disk 19. Slidably mounted within the tube H and welded or otherwise secured to the lower end of the tube l8, there is an annular sleeve member or housing 20 in the lower portion of which there is a chamber or cavity 2| having a conical wall structure 22. Within the chamber 2! extends the lower end of a tube 23 having a plurality of bores horizontally arranged about the tube in which ball bearings 24 are rotatably positioned. The tube 23 extends upwardly terminating in a flared portion 25 adjacent to but spaced from the lower surface of the seat IT. A spring member 26 encircling the tube 23 extends between the flared end 25 and an annular flanged member 21 secured to the inner wall of the tube l8 and exerting an upward force on the tube 23. Two or more levers 28 symmetrically disposed about the lower surface of the seat I! are pivoted at 29 with their inwardly extending end portions resting on the flared portion 25 of the tube 23 and their free ends extending outwardly towards the periphery of the seat I! abutting against an annular flanged disk member 30. The member 30 is held in position by Wood screws 3| having an enlarged shank portion 32 along which the annular member 30 is slidably movable.

An ornamental sheet metal housing 33 is secured to the lower surface of the seat I! and extends downwardly to cover the upward portion of the tubular member [8. In order to prevent the ball bearings 24 from leaving their positions in the bores of the tube 23, the downward movement of the tube 23 is limited by an annular plate 34 which is secured to the lower face of the sleeve 20.

In the normal operation of the device, by grapsing the seat with the hands and pressing the annular disk 30 with the fingers, the lever 28 is caused to be pivoted about pivot 29 causing the tube 23 to slide downwardly against the spring pressure 26. In moving downwardly the ball bearings 24 are removed out of engagement with the conical walls 22 of the sleeve 20 so that they are now free of being wedged against the tube l2. With the ball bearings 24 riding freely within the chamber 2| the stool seat I! can be either raised or lowered to any desired height within the lower limit determined by the height of the tube H and the upper limit of the enlarged head I5 of the rod [6 abutting against the opening 14 of the rod 12. The enlarged head l5 also serves to prevent the various telescoping tubes from leaving each other when the upper limit has been reached.

When the stool seat ll has been positioned-at the desired height, pressure on the annular disk 30 is released, thereby causing the spring pressure 26 to force the tubular member-23 upwardly carrying the ball bearings 24 upwardly and become wedged tightly between the cam wallsurfaces 22 and the tube 12. When a person sits on the, stool ii the added weighttends; to cause the sleeve carrying tube is :which iszsecured tothe stool l'lyat its upper; end .to force the sleeve 20 to move downwardly and to Wedge the ball bearings124'more securely in position,-thereby preventing any slipping, of the stool seat, I! to a lower position. Itpis to be noted that the arrangement of partsin the instant invention is such thatallthe stresses are borne by the'small diametered heavy tube 12 and the sleeve :20; Both of;,the se parts can be made of great strength withoutafiecting the cost or increasingthe overall weight of the device appreciably. Also, the stool i? can be rotated after being locked in position at the desired height since the ball bearings 24 and the telescoping tubular members !l,: and i8 are always free to revolve with-relawtion to each other.

Having now disclosed my invention and realizing.that, in view. of my disclosure many modifications in detailsof construction or design will readily occurto those skilled; in the art, I do not choose to limit myself except as in the appended claims.

Having describedtheinvention, what. I claim as new is:

l. A device of the class described comprising a support, an upwardly extending tubular member secured at its lowerend to said support, a second tubular member concentrically mounted within said first tubular member and secured thereto atits lower portion, said second tubular member having its opening at the'upper end reducedin' diameter, acthird tubular member slidably'mounted within said first tubular..membe-r, a stool seat secured to the upper end of-said third tubular member, an annular housing secured to the lower end of said last named tubular member, a chamber having a conical wall structure contained at the lower portion of said housing a fourth tubularrnember slidably engaging said second tubular member and extendingfrom said conical chamberto a position adjacent said seat, said fourth tubular member having, a flanged upper end portion, horizontally disposed bores mounted on said tubular member within said chambena plurality of ballbearings mounted in said bores engaging saidconical wall and said second tubular member, a spring encircling said fourth tubular member and extending between said flanged end =portion andv a .stop means mounted on the inside wall of said third tubular member, a rod. secured at one end ,to saidstool seatand slidably mounted in said second tubular member, said rod having an enlarged portion at its free end, and lever means pivotally mounted on the lower surface of said seat having its free end engaging said flanged end of said fourth tubular member.

2. A device of the class described comprising a tubular member, an elongated member concentrically mounted in said tubular member, a second tubular member telescopically engaging said first: tubular members asleeve having an inner conical shape secured to the lower end of said second tubular member, a third tubular member telescopically engaging said elongated member, aplurality, of ball bearings mounted on said third tubular and engaging said conical wall of said sleeve, and. operating means cooperatively connectedto said third tubular member for disengaging said ball bearings from said conical wall.

3..'A: device of the class described comprising a tubular member, a cylindrical member mounted Within said tubular member, a seat, a secondtubular member securedto said seat and slidably mounted, Within. saidfirst, tubular member, an annular housing secured at the free ,end of said second tubular member, saidhousing having an inner conical wall structure, a third tubular member concentrically mounted about said cylindrical member, a. plurality of ball bearings mounted on said thirdztubular member adjacent said conical wall structure in contact relation. with said cylindrical-member, and lever means 0 eratively connected to said thirdtubular member adapted to slide saidmember; relative to said housing for disengaging said ball bearings,

4., The structure .as. recited in claim 3 and restraining means associated With said cylindrical member-adapted .to limit the, extended position of;.said tubular members.

5. A, device. of. the class described comprising a'support, atubular member secured to said support, acylindrical member mounted Within said tubular member, aseat, a second tubular membersecured .to said seat and sliclably engaging said first tubular member, a sleeve mounted on the, free end, of saidsecond tubularmember, saidsleeve having aninner conical wall structure, a thirdtubular member concentrically mounted about saidcylindrical member, in spaced relation thereto, a plurality .ofballbearings mounted on saidthirdtubulan member in frictional engagementwith said cylindrical member and engagingv said conicalwall structure, spring means yieldingly forcingsaid third tubular member in a direction away iromsaid sleeve, lever means s cured to. said seat andengaging saidthird tu bular member for sliding said member against said spring pressure, and stop means mounted on said-seat and connectedoto said cylindrical member-adapted to limit the upward movement of said seat.

6. .The structure as .recited by claim 5 and further 'means loperatively connected to said sleeve adapted to limit the movement. of said third tubular member.

ANGELO RESTIVO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 478,840 Biggs July 12, 1892 619,596 Mayer Feb. 14:, 1899 1,194,551 Schlosser Aug. 15, 1916 1,351,179- Luery Aug. 31, 1920 

